Program Associate – Historic Interpreter

Position Title: Program Associate – Historic Interpreter
Position Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Department: Programming
Reports to: Co-Director, Programming - Interpretation
Wage Range: $14.00-$14.25-$14.50

Position Summary

This position assists Living History Farms in achieving its mission to educate, entertain, and connect people of all ages to Iowa’s rural life experiences. This person will interact with the museum’s guests, explaining through demonstrations and hands-on activities, the cultural stories and historic skills associated with domestic life at Living History Farms. This associate will be working with historic artifacts, such as historic kitchen tools, farming tools, woodstoves, cleaning or gardening equipment, textiles, and decorative arts items. This position will staff historic foodways programs, such as dinners and teas, both cooking and hosting. This position also conducts livestock chores.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides excellent customer service to museum guests, whenever interacting with the public.
• Ensures an inclusive experience for all with the ability to create safe spaces for learners of all ages.
• Demonstrates through planned activities and interpretation programming the daily activities and cultural stories of historic people and rural cultures.
• Demonstrates processes and equipment related to the historic sites assigned, including cultural traditions, foodways (wood stove or open fire cooking) and domestic housekeeping, textiles, gardening, poultry, or livestock care.
• Comprehends and conveys historical domestic and agricultural source material, as provided.
• Leads education programming as assigned, for adults and children, including day camp, tour groups, and other programs.
• Conducts routine site upkeep including cleaning of interiors and equipment, in-house production of historic goods, gardening, and care of livestock, according to museum guidelines.
• Maintains and monitors strict safety guidelines for equipment, activities, and programs, ensuring safe practices. Maintains site period atmosphere, site/kitchen cleanliness, and storage space organization.
• Masters provided training on Living History Farms internal procedures to safely handle tools, machinery, and livestock chores, as assigned.
• Hosts and cooks for historic foodways programs (i.e.,1900/Tangen/Flynn dinners & teas).
• Sitting, standing, bending, kneeling;lifting and moving of objects; climbing stairs, ladders, companionways, and/or gangways.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Other duties as assigned. May be cross trained to work at several historic sites, depending on museum needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May guide activities of assigned site staff (including college interns and volunteers), as directed. This position may be asked to complete work review paperwork for other interpreters at their primary site assignment.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

This position requires standing for much of the day and working both inside and outside of historic buildings while wearing reproduction historic clothing issued by Living History Farms. Sometimes, this is in adverse weather conditions. Most buildings this position will work in are not climate controlled. This position requires outdoor work in a variety of conditions. Work may be performed in dusty/dirty environments; in poorly lit areas; near open fires; working directly with animals, their food and waste. The noise level in the workplace varies from quiet to noisy.

EDUCATION and SKILLS

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with others, both staff and volunteers.
• Must be able to work independently or as part of a team to deliver quality educational programming.
• Enjoys working with the public, and people of all ages, especially children.
• Possesses excellent communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Display a willingness to learn, and a “can do” mentality. Ability to learn new material and processes efficiently.
• Ability to read and recall historical training documents provided.
• Approach situations with creative, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrate exceptional customer service skills.
• Enjoy working in a dynamic, fast-paced, collaborative workplace.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently, following through on tasks to completion.
• Able to perform physical tasks (lift 50 lbs.) with physical mobility.
• Have experience with computer programs, such as the Microsoft Office package.

Position Hours

This position will not exceed 1040 hours annually. Scheduling will vary between the general touring season and winter programs. During the general touring season from April 30 through October 31, this position is scheduled for no more than 28 hours weekly between Tuesdays - Saturdays from 8:45 am – 4:15 pm. The remaining hours are based on program reservations and will regularly include weekends/evenings beginning in November. Chore rotations are often on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesdays in two-hour shifts. Consistent attendance and schedule flexibility are essential to this position.

General Information

Living History Farms is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It’s mission as an interactive outdoor museum is to educate and connect all people to the many stories of Midwestern rural heritage. All staff are required to uplift our mission, advance the museum’s core values in their work, and consistently provide professional interactions with the public and co-workers with excellence. Living History Farms is a privately run, not-for-profit organization on 500 acres located in Urbandale, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.Livinghistoryfarms.org.

Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Job Type: Temporary

Pay: $14.00 - $14.25 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $14